Key holder



N. DYSART Feb. 22, 1955 KEY HOLDER Filed Feb. 25; 1954 rull-iv UnitedStates Patent KEY HOLDER NormanDysai-t, Amarillo, Tex. I ApplicationFebruary 23, 1954, Serial No. 411,719

6 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates to an improved keyholder.

It is an object of this invention to provide a keyholder for a pluralityof keys wherein the keys are supported in such a manner that they areeasily identified and readily accessible.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a keyholder whereineach key is latched within the holder and means are provided for easilyand rapidly releasing each key.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a keyholder whichaccomplishes the above purposes with a minimum of parts, therebyreducing the cost of manufacture and increasing the longevity of thedevice.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the followingdescription.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a keyholder embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the keyholder.

Figure 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section taken along line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Figure Figure 6 is a sideelevation of a modified form of this invention.

Figure 7 is a section taken along line 7-7 of Figure Referring first toFigures 1 through 5, the holder is formed of an upper plate 10 and alower plate 12 which are preferably of a suitable transparent plastic.These plates are secured to one another by screws 14 which pass throughthe plate 10 and screw into posts 16 carried by plate 12. Thus byremoving screws 14, plate 1 0 can be removed and keys 18 positioned uponposts 16 in the usual manner. In this embodiment the plate 12 isprovided with spacing blocks 20 to insure uniform spacing between plates10 and 12.

The plate 12 also has a spring anchoring block 22 positioned therein atits center, which is slotted to receive the spring 24. Spring 24 has anextremity on either side of block 22 and urges the keys 18 to pivotabout posts 16 to a position wherein the keys project from between theplates 10 and 12.

A locking member 26 is provided in the plate 10 for each key. Thismember has a finger tab 28 on one side of the bridge 30 and an arm 32 onthe other side of the bridge 30. The arm 32 carries a locking tab 34 onits extremity which has sufiicient depth to project betwcen the plates10 and 12 and engage the edge of the key 18 and hold the same againstthe urging of spring 24.

The locking member is molded integral with the plate 10 and with thebridge 30, consequently when the finger tab 28 is depressed, the arm 32raises until the locking tab 34 clears the key 18, permitting the spring24 to rotate same about the post 16 to where the key is exposed and maybe manually pivoted to the position illustrated in Figure 1.

The locking members 26 may be of different colors to aid in identifyingthe keys and preferably proJect above the surface of the plate 10 torender them more readily accessible. A protective flange 36 may beformed on the plate 10 to surround the exposed portions of the lockingmembers Preventing injury thereto.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7, a modified form of this invention isillustrated wherein like parts having similar functions are given thesame numerical designation as in the principal embodiment, with theaddition of the exponent a. It is readily apparent that this ICC holderis adapted for four keys instead of two. This lthek is accomplished byaddition of plate 38 on the other side of plate 12a, which is in allrespects the same as the plate 10a, including similar locking members.

In operation the screws 14 are removed and the plates separated. Thekeys 18 are then pivotally mounted on posts 16. The plates are thenassembled and the screws 14 reinserted. The keys 18 are then pivoteduntil they cam the locking tabs 34 upwardly and pass bencath the same,engaging and compressing the spring 24. When ey has passed beneath thelocking tab 34, it is lowered again due to the resient nature of bridge30, securing the key between the plates. When it is desired to use thelkey, the finger tab 28 is depressed, pivoting the locking member 26about the bridge 30, raising the locking tab 34 above the key 18. Thecompressed spring 24 then pivots the key 18 outwardly from between theplates.

While what hereinbefore has been described is the preferred embodimentof this invention, it is readily apparent that alterations andmodifications can be resorted to without departing from the scope ofthis invention and such alterations and modifications are intended to beincluded within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A keyholder comprising: a pair of spaced plates, means for pivotallymounting a key between said plates so that in one position the key issubstantially completely between said plates, spring means between saidplates for urging said key away rrom the position substantiallycompletely between said plates, and a locking member in one of saidplates having a finger tab at one extremity and an arm at the otherextremity, said locking member also having an integral connection withsaid plate intermediate its ends ror pivotally mounting said lockingmember in said plate, a locking tab on said arm projecting into the pathof said key and retaining same against the urging of said spring meanswhereby depressing of said finger tab moves said locking tab out of thepath of said key.

2. A keyholder comprising: a pair of spaced plates formed of atransparent plastic material, means for pivotally mounting a key betweensaid plates so that in one position the key is substantially completelybetween said plates, spring means between said plates for urging saidkey away rrom the position substantially completely between said plates,one of said plates havmg an aperture formed therein, a bridge moldedwith said lastmentioned plate spanning said aperture, a finger tabmolded with said bridge on one side of said bridge and secured theretoand extending into said aperture, an arm molded with said bridge on theother side of said bridge and secured thereto and extending into saidaperture, a locking tab on said arm projecting through said apei'tureadapted to engage said key and retaining same against urging of saidspring whereby depression of said finger tab pivots said arm,withdrawing said locking tab from the path of said key.

3. A keyholder, comprising: a pair of spaced plates, one of said platesdetining a latch lever aperture; a latch lever disposed within saidaperture and including a depressible finger tab, a latch arm having alatch end adapted to be raised upon depression of said finger tab, and afulcrum means between said finger tab and latch arm bridging saidaperture and joined to said apertured plate; means for pivotallySupporting a key between said plates for retention in a concealedposition therebetween by said latch end; and a spring for urging saidkey to an extended position upon depression of said finger tab andraising of said latch end to release said key.

4. A keyholder, comprising: a pair of spaced plates, at least one ofsaid plates having a pair of confronting slits separated by a bridgeportion, a finger tab defined by one of said slits, a latch arm definedby the other of said slits, said bridge forming a fulcrum between saidfinger tab and said latch arm, said latch arm having a latch enddepending into the space between said plates; means for pivotallySupporting a key between said plates for retention in a concealedposition therebetween by said .lath end; 4and fn .Spring inn urging Saidkey to an eX- tended position.

Aik'eyholder, comprisinzg: a single-piece cover plate including meansforming an" integral latch lever having n 'linger tab, .a latchteminating in n lath enn and an .interme'diate .fnlrnm portion, saidfinger tab being d'epfssible from the surface of said cover Plate antinn'erable through said fnlnlnl pnlftinn .to raise 'said lath 9214; Iflp.fQf pivotlly .monnting a key at one .side Of Said Plate for.restraining engngenlcnt bi' Said intel; end, and for pivpta movemnt toa position extended from said plate upon release'of said latch end.

" 6.' A keyholder eompvrising: a pair of spaced plates, means forpivotally `mo'unting a key between said plates so that in one positionthe key is substantially completely between 'said'platen spring meansbetween said plates for nrging said key away from the positionsubstantially corrp pltelfy betweensaid plates, one of said plateshaving an nrfitnr-.e there-in, a bdge Secnred to Said last mentined.

plates -spanning said aperture, a finger tab secured to said bridge.losatesl in. said apertnre on oneside of said bridge, an arm secured tosaid bridge and located in said aperture on the other side of saidbridge, a locking tab on said arm projecting through said apertureadapted to engage said key and retaining same against urging of saidspring whereby depression of said finger tab pivots said arm,withdrawing said locking tab from the path of said key.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES 'PATENTS

